Holton’s “old water tower” continues to be an asset

Although it’s been in service for more than half a century, the City of Holton water storage standpipe — the “old water tower” — continues to perform a valuable service for the community, the Holton City Commission noted during its first meeting of 2017.
During the commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday — held a day later than usual due to the New Year’s Day observation on Monday — commissioners approved a $10,162.85 payment to Utility Service Company of Pittsburg for the company’s annual maintenance contract on the 300,000-gallon standpipe that city officials esti­mated has been in service since the late 1940s.
After the payment — part of the commission’s list of budget appro­priations for the first few days of 2017 — was questioned by Com­missioner Tim Morris, Holton City Manager Kerwin McKee and City Clerk Teresa Riley reminded Mor­ris why the standpipe, which now serves as a supplement to the city’s 750,000-gallon elevated storage tank, built in 1995, is still a neces­sity for the city.